Means for centering and stabilizing a pin-type electrical connector



June 1, 1965 G. H. GLUNTZ 3,187,297

MEANS FOR CENTERING AND STABILIZING A PIN-TYPE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR Filed Aug. 21, 1962 INVENTOR. GLENN H. GLuNTz BY United States Patent M 3,187,297 MEANS FOR CENTERING AND STABILIZING A PIN-TYPE ELECTRICAL CGNNECTOR Glenn H. Gluntz, Harrisburg, Pa, assignor to AM]? Incorporated, Harrisburg, Pa. Filed Aug. 21, 1962, Ser. No. 218,335 1 Claim. (Cl. 339217) In the technique of joining a plurality of wires to a second plurality of wires in a predetermined pattern, and in such fashion as to permit them to be disconnected and reconnected repeatedly, it is common to use a set of connectors known as pin and socket connectors. The pin member may be secured to one set of conductors, and the corresponding socket members may be joined to the other set of conductors. A block of insulating material having a plurality of cavities to retain the pin members may be joined with a similar insulating block to retain the socket members.

In such a device, it is necessary to insure that each of the pin members is precisely aligned with its proper socket member. The greater the number of pin and socket members in the cavities, the more diificult this becomes. A slight misalignment of a pin and socket makes the connection much more difiicult, as Well as contributing to the possibility of damage when the members are united. When several pin and socket members are misaligned in different directions, the difficulty becomes considerably more pronounced.

It is an object of this invention to provide a means for aligning pin members in a cavity of an insulating block to insure proper connection with a mating socket member.

Other objects and attainments of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the drawings in which there is shown and described an illustrative embodiment of the invention; it is to be understood, however, that this embodiment is not intended to be exhaustive nor limiting of the invention but is given for purposes of illustration in order that others skilled in the art may fully understand the invention and the principles thereof and the manner of applying it in practical use so that they may modify it in various forms, each as may be best suited to the conditions of a particular use.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the device secured to an electrical conductor;

FIGURE 2 is a plan View of the aligning and retaining means as uesd in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a view looking from the lines 33 of FIGURE 2 and showing the assembly of the aligning and retaining means;

FIGURE 4 is an end view of the device of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is an end view of the device of FIGURE 2 as applied to a pin-type connector;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary view of the means for securing the retaining means through the barrel of the connector;

FIGURE 7 is a view of the device of FIGURE 1 as shown in situ in an insulating block; and

FIGURE 8 is a sectional View taken through plane 88 of FIGURE 7.

As shown in FIGURES 1 and 7, a pin-type connector comprises a barrel member 10 having a pin 12 extending rom one end thereof, and a tapered portion 14 effecting the transition between the barrel and the pin. The end of the barrel, remote from the pin portion, contains an outwardly extending flange 16. Also extending from this end of the barrel is a conductor-receiving portion 18 adapted to be cold-forged onto an electrical conductor 2% 3,187,297 Patented June 1, 1965 A second conductor-receiving portion 22 may be deformed onto the insulation of the conductors to provide an insulation-supporting means.

An insulating block B (FIGURE 7) contains a plurality of cavities 24 extending therethrough. (Since all the cavities are identical, only one is shown in the drawing.) The central portion of the cavity has a decreased diameter, as at 26, to provide a shoulder 27 therein; As shown in FIGURE 7, the connector 10 is positioned in the cavity axially thereof, with the conductor 20 extending from one end and the pin 12 emanating from the other end.

The stabilizing member, as shown in FIGURES 24,

comprises a metallic sleeveSfi adapted to surround the barrel 10. The sleeve has a plurality of finger-like members 32 extending in the direction toward the pin 12. As shown in FIGURE 7, these fingers are longitudinally arcuate so that they engage the inner surface of the cavity 24. Additionally, the free ends of the fingers contact the pin member 12 to align it coaxially with the cavity 24. These fingers 32 are flexible and adapt themselves to the cavity and the pin to centrally adjust and retain the pin within the cavity.

Additionally, a plurality of Wings 34 (three of which are shown in the drawings) extend from the stabilizing means at the end opposite from the finger members 32 to lock the stabilizing member therein. A spring detent 35 on the barrel 10 prevents movement of the stabilizing member toward the pin 12. The wings 34 are fiexible and designed to cooperate with the finger-like members 32 to retain the barrel and pin in longitudinal alignment. Also, the wings 34 abut against the shoulder 27, and thus retain the pin within the cavity. Additionally, the flange 16 on the barrel 10 acts as a detent against the other side of the shoulder 27 to prevent the pin and barrel from being forced through the cavity.

The stabilizing member 30 tightly embraces the barrel, and thus causes the barrel to be retained in proper alignment. This stabilizing member 30 may be formed out of thin sheet metal (FIGURE 4), with wings 34 and finger members 32 stamped and formed at the same time. The stabilizing member is preferably formed in an arcuate shape, and then Wrapped around the barrel with a tab 40 on one side being inserted through a slot 42 on the other side. The tab 40 of the stabilizing member is generally trapezoidal (see FIGURE 6), whereby a pair of triangular locking members 43, 43' are formed on each end of the tab. In its unassembled condition, the wings are bent up at right angles to the main body portion of the tab 40 (FIGURES 2 and 4). After the stabilizing means is tightly wrapped around the barrel, the wings 43, 43' of the tab may be deformed outwardly (FIGURE 6) to lock the stabilizing means in place. A dimple 44 on the stabilizing member orients it with respect to the barrel and retains it in proper position.

When it is desired to make arconnection, a conductor 20 is crimped onto the conductor-receiving portion 18 and the insulation support member 22 is crimped onto the insulation of the conductor. The stabilizing member 30 is wrapped around the barrel 1G and the tab 40 is deformed to retain it thereon. The fingers 32 and the wings 34 may be depressed to permit them to fit through the minor diameter 26 of the cavity 24. The fingers and wings then expand to lock the assembly in the cavity and align the pin scope of the invention. The matter set forth in the foregoing description and accompanying drawings is offered by Way of illustration only.

I claim: 7

The combination of a pin-type electrical connector and a device for centering it and stabilizing, it comprising: a barrel member having a ,pin extending axially from one end thereof, means on the other end of said barrel for receiving an electrical conductor, and adapted to be cold-forged thereto, said barrel'adapte'd to fit into the cavity of an insulating block With said pin protruding therefrom, and means for retaining said barrel in said insulating'block whereby said pin is coaxial with the cavity and stabilized therein, said means comprising a sleeve surrounding said barrel and tightly engaging it, a plurality of resilient fingers emanating from said sleeve in the direction of said pin, said fingers being longitudinally arcuate with their free ends engaging said pin, said arcuate portion adapted to bear against the inside surface of the cavity, means on said opposite end of said ferrule for centering the ferrule in the cavity and retaining it therein, and means for locking said sleeve on said barrel, said means comprising an aperture in said sleeve, a tab forming part of said sleeve, said tab extending through said aperture and deformed whereby the sleeve is securely fastened to the barrel.

References titted by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS JOSEPH D. SEERS, Primary Exmniner.

M. HENSON WOOD, 13., Examiner. 

